True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts

This month we are reviewing the True Chews Premium Jerky Cuts for Chewy.com. who carries fourteen different True Chews treats for dogs.

Who is True Chews?

An American based company under the umbrella of Tyson Pet Products located in Independence, Iowa, who are dedicated to providing your dog with only 100% natural chews which are rawhide-free and without any artificial flavors or fillers. These treats are made from American sourced chicken, beef and pork.

They are the Official Treat Sponsor of the United States War Dogs Association – a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring and providing assistance to military service dogs and their handlers.

What I like about the Premium Jerky Cuts

I like the short list of ingredients which are  Chicken, Vegetable Glycerin, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavor, Paprika Extract Color, Garlic Powder, Mixed Tocopherols (Preservative), Rosemary Extract.  

I also very much appreciate the re-sealable bags and the fresh aroma.  Considering how much comes in a bag I find $4.99 for the 4 oz bag or $12.99  for the 12 oz bag is quite reasonable. 

What Kirby likes about the Premium Jerky Cuts

When I opened the bag the aroma of chicken got his attention right away.  I know they make a smaller size for small dogs but he appreciated this size.  Being a voracious chewer it lasts a little longer than just a bite. 

They aren't as dried out as my homemade jerky but they have a really chewy texture he seems to crave. So good aroma + good flavor + chewy texture = 4 paws and a wag!

I so wish I had a picture to share! I had several and the cutest video of Kirby doing everything he could to get one of these treats.  Sadly, when I realized I couldn't find them, he had already eaten every piece of jerky.  

If you can't find these treats at your local pet store, then be sure to visit chewy.com for the top brands in dog food and treats. 

Disclosure:  Kirby the Dorkie is a member of the Chewy.com Blogger Outreach Network. We receive the products to review each month and are not compensated in any other way.  Our opinions are solely based on our experience with the product which we approve. 

My New Kitchen Pantry

When we originally built this house we placed a coat closet in the small hallway off the kitchen.  We have a large kitchen with plenty of cabinets so I didn't really need a pantry.  Then I got into baking, I mean really got into baking as in all those must have and really want baking paraphernalia.   With my cabinets filled I needed to turn the coat closet into a pantry. 

We picked up a stackable thingamajig at Lowes which gave me more room even if many of the products sat precariously atop one another just waiting for a messy mishap. 

It was time to make a plan!   

I had some paint leftover from my office redo which was a light color so I decided to paint the inside of the closet the night before Doug was going to cut and install the shelves.  I don't think it had been painted since we built the house so you can imagine the dingy marked up white it was.  A typical man, Doug questioned why I had bothered since it was just a closet?  Not even going there!

The next day he cut the shelves and supports which I also painted.  Once they had dried installing them in the closet was quick and easy.  He made the braces long enough so I can always make the shelves deeper in the future if I find I need it.

I decided not to waste any paint on the door because I'm going to replace it at a later date with a more stylish paneled door to match all the other doors already replaced.  

Just look at how much more space I have with no worries of something toppling over to create a mess.  I love my new pantry! Thanks Doug - you rock in my book!

How about you? Doing any simple renovations in your kitchen?  

Grrreat Granola Bars

Grrreat Granola Bars

Homemade granola bars are easy to make, freezer friendly, and adaptable to whatever ingredients you want to use. Fact is the choices and combinations of ingredients for a granola bar can be endless and dog gone healthy depending on the ingredients chosen.  You can check my lists of Healthy Ingredients and Safe Herbs & Spices to create your own granola bars geared to your pupster.

According to Calorie Count each bar contains 95 calories with 36 calories from fat if divided into 35 squares. Don't let that scare you because they are packed with protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.  To lower the calorie content, cut them into smaller bars and feed sparingly. Sedentary dogs should have less while active dogs can indulge a little more.  They would be perfect for hiking, a day at the lake, or agility practice.

These are really chewy which Kirby enjoyed, however I would recommend having a big bowl of water handy as he took a few trips to his water fountain.  The blackstrap molasses imparts a bittersweet flavor Kirby likes. You can use honey, agave, or maple syrup for a sweeter taste.  Add a dollop of plain greek yogurt for some probiotic goodness. 

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1 cup (6 oz) shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/2 cup ground flax seed
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/3 cup blackstrap molasses
• 1/3 cup natural crunchy peanut butter
• 1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1 1/2 cups chopped dried fruit

Preparation Instructions

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Line a 9 x 13 pan with aluminum foil leaving a bit of the foil hanging over the edges of the pan to create a 'sling' so you can lift the granola out of the pan once baked. Do not use wax paper which I found the hard way will stick to the granola. Spray the foil with olive oil or a non-stick cooking spray.

3.  Finely chop the almonds with 1/2 cup of the oats.

4.  Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together in a large bowl and then spread on a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.

5.  Transfer this mixture back to the mixing bowl and stir in the flax seed, cinnamon, ginger and salt. 

6.  Add the dried fruit. I used cranberries, cherries, and blueberries. I also chopped the fruit into smaller pieces based on Kirby's preference.

7.  Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.

8.  Place the coconut oil, molasses, peanut butter, and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat constantly stirring. Cook for about a minute and then slowly pour it over the toasted oatmeal mixture.

9.  Now you need to mix it all together until it's completely coated.  Using the side of a large stiff rubber spatula cut through the mix over and over while rotating the bowl. This breaks up all the clumps of moistened ingredients so that any remaining dry ingredients can be incorporated.

10.  Spoon into the prepared pan.  Oil or wet your hands and press the mixture down firmly.

11.  Bake for 25 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 250 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes until light golden brown.

12.  Remove from the oven and press down using a spatula. They’ll seem like they are too soft but they will set once completely cooled.

13.  Let them cool for about 20 minutes then remove from the pan using the foil sling as handles. Gently cut the bars or squares with a very sharp knife but don't separate them until them are fully cooled which will take 2 to 3 hours. If the bars seem crumbly, chilling them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes sometimes helps set the “glue”.

Wrap bars individually in plastic wrap as soon as possible so they don’t dry out and crumble. They will keep in the fridge or at room temperature for up to 1 week. You can place the wrapped bars in a large freezer bag and freeze.  They will thaw within an hour or so. I’m not sure how long they will keep in the freezer but I would think several months.

 Overall, the bars stayed together. I stored the crumbly bits in an airtight container in the fridge to toss over his dinners.

I couldn't help but smile at the story behind this next picture.  I was posing and taking pictures of Kirby with the finished granola bar when he started eating it.  I have to confess I enjoyed a few myself so we may be sharing.

Today we are excited to be celebrating the 2 Year Anniversary of the Tasty Tuesday Blog Hop sponsored by Sugar the Golden Retriever and Kol's Notes who had some special requests:  Create or review a treat containing the secret ingredient "fruit" and/or record a video showing what your dog(s) would do for a treat.

 I can't wait to check out the other blogs to see what they did! You can too - just click on the individual links...